Lightning Typical Cause of Forest Fires Here - Silvercity Daily Press

8 recent wildfires in the Gila Wilderness caused by lightning

SILVER CITY, New Mexico (KVIA) -- U.S. Forest Service officials say that heavy lightning activity recently is responsible for eight wildfires in the Gila National Forest. The Goose, Turkeyfeather, Pinnacle, Gila Flat, Railroad, Copperas, Granny, and Cow Fires were all started by lightning. The Forest Service describes some of the wildfires as follows: "The Pinnacle Fire (5 acres),8 miles west of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, was repor…

Lightning typical cause of forest fires here - Silvercity Daily Press

By MARCELA JOHNSON Daily Press Staff Multiple fires in the immediate area have been attributed to lightning, but how do investigators determine the cause of wildfires? To answer that question, the Daily Press talked with two fire information officers. Maribeth Pecotte, U.S. Forest Service public affairs officer, said that in training for fire investigators, the first thing they learn to do is determine a fire’s point of origin. “Investigators co…